Reaction to Health Emergencies

Abstract

A health emergency is defined as a scenario involving health conditions that pose a risk to humans, resulting in a substantial rise in disease, disability, and death. The most recent health emergency was the last COVID-19 pandemic. Although the initial focus was on respiratory illness, it soon became clear that the infection could also cause neurological diseases. The emergency also resulted in the neglect of the usual chronic and other illnesses. In this chapter, we summarize the lessons learned from the pandemic and we propose an operational definition of neurological health emergencies, and potential courses of action. Emergencies often require rapid changes to social and policy systems. It is vital to remain constantly alert to identify and deal with the long-term consequences of emergencies. It is crucial to maintain chronic disease care, promote healthy lifestyles, and manage psychological distress during crises to minimize secondary health impacts.